Warg

Wargs, also spelled worgs and sometimes called vargs or more properly vargar, are giant wolves known for their intelligence and power. Though Imperials and other cultures see them as "evil," and there are many malevolent wargs of divine power, some wargs revered by the cultures of Northrim.

The following passages are quoted from Midgard's Noblest Beasts, written by an anonymous monk of Astra Aeterna. A note from Zacynthos of Arcadia: please do not take all of this monk's speculations to heart.

Appearance

Wargs take on the appearance of enormous wolves, nearing, reaching, or even greatly exceeding the size of horses. Other than their great size, the primary difference between a warg and an ordinary wolf is their eyes. The eyes of a warg are incredibly bright and can be a wide variety of colors. Some say that the eyes of a warg are entirely solid in color and glowing with magic.

Culture

It is said by some that wargs have a "culture." What this culture may be, however, no one knows. They are intelligent and capable of speech. This is not mimicry. Wargs speak the languages of Men and elves as well as a bestial, guttural tongue that other creatures cannot replicate.

Legends

Wargs are known throughout Northrim and are mentioned in numerous legends, occasionally used as mounts by some gods and jotnar. The greatest of the wargs include the terrible monster-gods Fenrir, Hati, and Sköll, who according to prophecy will side with the forces of Chaos at the coming of Ragnarok. Because of this, wargs are generally thought of as evil creatures, though the people of Northrim dispute this. Odin's wolves Geri and Freki might also be wargs, and they are considered forces of good. Many Nordling tales also exist of other benevolent wargs.

Wolves and Werewolves

It is unknown how much relation - if any - wargs have to werewolves, or even to wolves, in spite of sharing their general appearance. Some speculate wargs are werewolves. Others say that werewolves and wargs are naturally drawn to each other and that wargs can command wolves. However, like any other wolf-kin, all wargs will immediately answer the call of the Six.

Abilities

Like werewolves, wargs will swallow men whole and alive. Likewise, wargs possess the same ability as all wolfish creatures that they may temporarily silence a man's voice with a glance. Even one warg is an impossibly dangerous foe, and no man should attempt to face one. Instead, such work should be left in the capable hands of expert monster hunters, such as the Venatori.